Shortly before we reached the summit of the pass thick mists began to envelope the tops of the hills, and a drizzling rain descended. “These mists,” said Antonio, “are what the Gallegans call _bretima_; and it is said there is never any lack of them in their country.” “Have you ever visited the country before?” I demanded. “_Non_, _mon maître_; but I have frequently lived in houses where the domestics were in part Gallegans, on which account I know not a little of their ways, and even something of their language.” “Is the opinion which you have formed of them at all in their favour?” I inquired. “By no means, _mon maître_; the men in general seem clownish and simple, yet they are capable of deceiving the most clever _filou_ of Paris; and as for the women, it is impossible to live in the same house with them, more especially if they are _camareras_, and wait upon the _señora_; they are continually breeding dissensions and disputes in the house, and telling tales of the other domestics. I have already lost two or three excellent situations in Madrid, solely owing to these Gallegan chambermaids. We have now come to the frontier, _mon maître_, for such I conceive this village to be.” We entered the village, which stood on the summit of the mountain, and, as our horses and ourselves were by this time much fatigued, we looked round for a place in which to obtain refreshment. Close by the gate stood a building which, from the circumstance of a mule or two and a wretched pony standing before it, we concluded was the _posada_, as in effect it proved to be. We entered: several soldiers were lolling on heaps of coarse hay, with which the place, which much resembled a stable, was half filled. All were exceedingly ill-looking fellows, and very dirty. They were conversing with each other in a strange-sounding dialect, which I supposed to be Gallegan. Scarcely did they perceive us when two or three of them, starting from their couch, ran up to Antonio, whom they welcomed with much affection, calling him _companheiro_. “How came you to know these men?” I demanded in French: “_Ces messieurs sont presque tous de ma connoissance_,” he replied, “_et_, _entre nous_, _ce sont de __véritables vauriens_; they are almost all robbers and assassins. That fellow with one eye, who is the corporal, escaped a little time ago from Madrid, more than suspected of being concerned in an affair of poisoning; but he is safe enough here in his own country, and is placed to guard the frontier, as you see? but we must treat them civilly, _man maître_; we must give them wine, or they will be offended. I know them, _mon maître_—I know them. Here, hostess, bring an _azumbre_ of wine.”